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bjbj Just weeks after we brought you the scary truth about synthetic marijuana, comes a report
about a rising abuse trend among U.S. troops. Could our men and women be facing even more
danger away from the battlefield? I m Kimberly Walleston, with another breaking story for
Insider s Health News. Insider s Health has been quick to bring you the truth about synthetic
marijuana. With lung issues, major heart problems, and hallucinations all being linked to the
herbal mix, it s best to stay away from the laboratory. But now our own troops are increasingly
using the easy-to-get drugs, smoking what they call spice because it is extremely difficult
to detect and will give you a high that can last for days. The abuse has been so rampant
that military officials launched an aggressive testing program and investigation into more
than 1,100 suspected users. The results have not been pretty. Two years ago only 29 Marines
were investigated for Spice. This year, the number jumped over 700. And while those found
guilty of using the herbal cocktail are kicked out of active duty, the concern centers on
the inability for a reliable test. The Drug Enforcement Administration developed a better
version, but that has only spawned new adaptations to avoid detection. So the numbers of those
caught could be just a fraction of those abusing. In civilian life, more than 40 states have
banned the chemicals for spice, creating a large market on the internet where it s marketed
as incense or potpourri. Underground chemists are altering properties to make over 100 permutations,
which renders outlawing certain chemicals useless and also creates a whole new host
of problems. People are literally putting unknown creations into their bodies for a
temporary high, and these mixtures could be the equivalent of arsenic or bleach. But the
biggest problem, for now, is with those occupying our military. They need to get the same knowledge
and treatment about the devastating effects of Spice before it s too late. Not only could
being altered in the middle of a war zone prove deadly, the side effects could cause
just as much harm. It s already been linked to schizophrenia and causes incoherence for
hours. At least the military finally knows the huge problem it is dealing with, and can
stay vigilant in their fight against synthetic drugs. Because there s enough danger out there
without having to worry about smokeable potpourri. That s it for this edition of Insider s Health
TV. I m your host, Kimberly Walleston. And remember: it s your health. We re just helping
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